A blog exploring morality, politics, and religion.

University bars employees from being gay, having pre-marital sex, drinking in public

Posted on November 1, 2011

A private university in Georgia is forcing its roughly 278 employees to sign a statement that rejects pre-marital sex, homosexuality, and drinking in public — or risk termination. Shorter University’s “personal lifestyle statement” says that the school will only employ Christians who closely follow the Bible and regularly attend church.

“I think that anybody who adheres to a lifestyle that is outside of what the Biblical mandate is — what the board has passed, including the president — would not be allowed to continue here.”

Dowless told the Christian Post that the policy is legal, and meant to clarify the school’s position as a Christian university.

“We love Jesus Christ, and we want people who serve here to love Jesus Christ and be willing to not just sign the document, but enthusiastically endorse that in every aspect of their lives. We are an institution that wants to foster a Christian environment…and that’s done by all employees who we hire, not just the faculty but also the staff.”

“As a private institution we have a right, just like organizations have the right, to set expectations of their employees. We have a right to hire only Christians.”

Of course, whether the policy is ethical is a different matter. If you are interested, there is a public petition here.